Roald at 2012 British Olympic Trials
Four years ago, some USATF bigwigs were laughing at
Roald Bradstock in his colorful suits throwing hand-painted javelins after sneaking into the U.S. Olympic Trials. Today, at age 50, he threw in the British Olympic Trials — and took second! His mark of 72.78 meters (238-9) on his first attempt is marked as a season best, and exceeds the listed M50 age-group world record. The listed WR is 71.01 (232-11) by Spain’s
Luis Nogueira at 2007 Riccione worlds. But Roald won’t get the WR because he threw with an 800-gram stick and
WMA’s rules specify the lighter 700-gram implement. (Here in Eugene, masters records czar
Sandy Pashkin confirms that you have to throw with the masters implement to get a masters record.) In 2008, Roald threw 68.71 (225-5) in the Trials qualifying round. But his 72.78 today in Birmingham will not punch his ticket for London. The “A” qualifying standard is 82 meters (269-0). Brilliant, RB!
British Olympian Roald at 2008 Trials, when he was a kid. (Dual citizenship.)
3:25 – JAVELIN THROW – Men – Final OFFICIAL RESULTS
1 Lee DORAN SHEFFIELD 79.72 PB
2 Roald BRADSTOCK D&T 72.78 SB
3 Neil CROSSLEY CHELT’HAM 70.25
4 Felix HATTON K&P 68.38
5 Matti MORTIMORE IPSWICH 68.13
6 Joe DUNDERDALE LINC W 67.96
7 Brett BYRD STOKE 66.76
8 Michael COX MILTON K 65.70
9 Bonne BUWEMBO ENFIELD 64.52
10 Aidan REYNOLDS TELFORD 62.76
11 Craig LACY CAMBRIDGE 62.24
12 Freddie CURTIS MILTON K 61.27
10 Responses
Well done boy!
Amazing effort.
Fantastic…and the suits add a swagger that he definitely merits.
How stupid is it that you can throw farther than the WR with a HEAVIER jav and it doesn’t count? Ridiculous!! Probably wouldn’t count running over higher hurdles either?
It is ridiculous, but on the other hand, the flight characteristics of different weights are different. In this case it is disadvantageous because the 700 flies better than an 800. But the 600 flies worse than a 700.
Roald threw 77m+ recently with the 700 gram javelin. If you look for his youtube account it is shown.
76.15m was the mark for a world masters 50-54 record. if you look on youtube account name: Roald62 it shows video
Bubba, actually you can set a masters record by running hurdles higher than the specified ones. Sandy Pashkin told me this the other day. She says the throws have to use the assigned implement, but hurdlers who run the 42-inch highs, for example, can set masters age-group records for 39-inch barriers.
Congrats on an outstanding throw!! Truly impressive and inspirational to all of us who are getting older but still fighting the good fight against the clock. Awesome.
Amazing!!!!
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